Most Lifehacker readers are perfectly comfortable buying stuff online, but if you've ever wondered what method of payment is best for your online purchases, the New York Times compares PayPal, credit, and debit cards to see which is safest.

In short: None of the methods are perfect, but credit cards are generally your safest bet. From the article:

"The strongest protections are when you pay by credit card," says Carole Reynolds, a senior lawyer at the Federal Trade Commission. Under the Truth in Lending Act, consumers' maximum liability for unauthorized use of their credit card is only $50, and when a card is used online, it's zero.

For extra protection against having your card number stolen, consider using one-time credit card numbers for online purchases, which you can often set up with your card provider.

Keep in mind that you can also do things on your end to make sure you're making safe purchases, like looking for https in the URL when you're making a purchase (it indicates your data will be encrypted). Got a that-much-more-secure method you use for buying online? Let's hear it in the comments.